Best Areas to Stay in Chicago

Picking the right base in Chicago

In Chicago the neighbourhood you book decides how much of your trip is spent in transit. The L (elevated + subway trains) reaches O'Hare (Blue Line 45 min, US$5) and Midway (Orange Line 30 min, US$2.50) plus Downtown, Wrigleyville, Wicker Park. US$2.50 per ride or US$5 unlimited day pass with Ventra card. Uber/Lyft plentiful. Divvy bike-share US$18 day pass. Walk the Loop, Millennium Park, Magnificent Mile — Downtown is grid-perfect and walkable.

The Loop

Business core, Art Institute, Millennium Park, Theatre District — Palmer House, Hyatt Regency, W City Center.

Magnificent Mile

Michigan Ave shopping strip, Water Tower — Peninsula, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf Astoria.

River North

Gallery district, dining, steakhouses — Langham, Thompson Chicago, Godfrey Hotel.

West Loop

Restaurant Row (Girl & the Goat, Duck Duck Goat, Alinea in adjacent Lincoln Park) — Nobu Hotel, Ace Chicago.

Gold Coast / Streeterville

Historic mansions, Oak Street Beach — Drake, Waldorf Astoria.

Wicker Park / Bucktown

Indie shops, cocktail bars, Milwaukee Ave nightlife — Robey Hotel is the boutique base.

Which area suits which traveler

• First-time visitors

  Three days Downtown/Loop/Mag Mile + one Wrigleyville + one West Loop dining day is the classic mix.

• Families

  Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, MSI, Millennium Park + Navy Pier make four child-focused days effortless.

• Luxury travelers

  Peninsula, Four Seasons, Waldorf, Langham, Ritz-Carlton — Michigan Ave has the strongest US luxury cluster.

• Budget travelers

  Lincoln Park Zoo free, Millennium Park free, deep-dish slices US$8, L day pass US$5.

Booking hotels in Chicago

Rates in Chicago move with events and season, so compare live prices across the areas above for your exact dates rather than assuming one neighbourhood is always cheaper.